The effect of task difficulty on kinetic variables of postural control among elderly people
Poster Presentation XML
Paper ID : 1959-11THCONF
Authors
1کارشناس ارشد رفتار حرکتی
2Scientific member
3Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Sports Medicine Research Center, Sport Sciences Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Walking is automatic skill and does not require attention, but, in elderly, when it runs simultaneously with a secondary task, its rhythm will be change. In this way, while standing or walking, other tasks such as solving the mental task, subjective conversation or carrying an object at the same time, the implementation of the tasks leads to a lot of changes in walking pattern. Defective ability to maintain balance while performing a cognitive task leads to reduced effective physical and cognitive performance and increased risk of falling in the elderly. Accordingly, the purpose of this research was to determine the effect of task difficulty on kinetic variables of postural control among elderly people.
Methodology: In this semi experimental study, 20 elderly people were voluntarily selected and randomly assigned in two difficult task groups (low and high difficulty). To evaluate the postural control of subjects, a computerized dynamic posturography system was used. For data analysis, independent t-test was used.
Results: results showed that there are significant difference among groups, so that, the group with low difficulty task had a better postural control than group with high difficulty task (P<0.05). Also, group with low difficulty task have better kinetic variable than other group (P<0.05).
Discussion: Based on these research results, as the age increases, the stability and flexibility of postural control system were decreases. The postural control system is more affected by the increase in difficulty level of task, and the specific organization in postural control systems is determined by the functional and environmental assignments in which it is implemented.
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